I am honored to have been a part of The Kentucky Artisan Center's show in Berea, KY

225 : Artists Celebrate Kentucky's History

The show was beautiful and remained in place for 6 months to celebrate Kentucky's 225th anniversary of statehood. The show included a wide range of work and illustrated our state's rich history from the 18th century to the present.

I'm also happy to say that I sold two paintings, Cane and Josiah. The painting, Indentured, still resides there.

Friday, October 28, 2016

During the past year, I am found to be working on a wide variety of subjects. Earlier in this period, I decided to take a break from landscape themes after creating the Cloudscape/Landscape series and painted a few meticulous figurative pieces, then stretched my legs by moving in the opposite direction and painting as quickly as I could while still conveying light, contrast, feeling. It was invigorating!

During this time, I also painted and donated a piece to the Louisville Visual Arts fundraiser, Art [Squared] 2016, which took place in April and I currently have three pieces showcased in their online venue, Artebella. I participated in a group show at Danville Community Arts in neighboring Boyle County, and also delivered a new selection of paintings to Edenside Gallery, in Louisville. Several commissions were finished, as well.

The following paintings reflect my work of the past year or so. Enjoy the viewing and if interested in purchasing, please contact me at markaselter@gmail.com.

I will leave you with this quote:

"If it is the love of that which your work represents - if, being a landscape painter, it is love of hills and trees that moves you - if, being a figure painter, it is love of human beauty, and human soul that moves you - if, being a flower or animal painter, it is love, and wonder, and delight in petal and in limb that move you, then the spirit is upon you, and the earth is yours, and the fullness thereof." --John Ruskin

ARToberfest Fundraiser

The 2015 auction to benefit Marion County Arts & Humanities Council took place in October. Thanks to the generosity of artists and individuals who donated art for the auction and to those who purchased; many much needed dollars were raised to provide funding for grants and local arts programs. I donated two oil paintings: Along the Big South Fork and 1 Mile.

Donation to a Fundraiser

"Dirty Painting", unframed oil on canvas, 7" x 14". In support of my local community and the arts, I have donated this painting to Marion County Arts and Humanities Council's annual art auction fundraiser which has a retro 50's theme this year. The event takes place November 1st. To learn more, click the painting to be linked to their facebook page.

Into the Morning

This painting was donated to the 2011 LVAA Art Auction. The auction took place at the historic Water Tower in Louisville. The auction offers over 100 pieces of art contributed by the area's finest visual artists, art patrons, collectors, CFAC and Hite Art Institute alumni and respected galleries. Thanks to the generosity of the participants in past auctions, the event has generated on average $34,000 for the Children's Fine Art Classes program and $12,000 for the University of Louisville Hite Art Institute's Mary Spencer Nay Scholarship Endowment.

To Resupply Lewis and Clark

This painting was sold in the 2010 Louisville Visual Art Association/UofL Hite Art Institute art auction to help fund LVAA's Children's Fine Art Classes and the Hite Art Institute's Mary Spencer Nay Scholarship Fund. The asking price was $1500. and I am proud to announce that it sold for $1700. with 50% of the selling price being donated to the cause!

The Murder of Captain Abraham Lincoln

In 2008, I was commissioned to work on this very large project for the city of Springfield, Kentucky in Washington County: I embarked upon an extensive research into the clothing, arms, and way of life of early Kentucky settlers as well as the many accountings of this event which occurred in the late 18th century. Local people were used as models and a local landowner in the Beech Fork River Valley, where the Lincoln family once lived, allowed the use of his property to set up the reenactment/photoshoot for this project. The resulting painting is inspired from a compilation of the many stories and myths depicting the death of Captain Abraham Lincoln. Washington county fiscal court owns the painting which was presented to the public in an unveiling ceremony in 2009. It measures 48'' x 60'' and now resides as a permanent installation in the Lincoln Legacy Museum located in the old courthouse in Springfield, Kentucky.